cost of used cobra in 1969

[Kit Coyle]

I bought CSX2047 in LA for $3200 in 1968 and a bit later went to Shelby's
sale and saw the Daytona coupe for $8500. What with the dents, dull paint
and plastic windows, I passed.

[4Scargo]

Yes, the $3200 mark was what I was estimating. Probably less in 1971-72 with everyone worrying about gas. I had a shed on the farm and could have easily slipped it in there. And maybe 'rediscover' it as a barn find!(?) Would have added an easy $100K to the value.

Shoulda, huh?

[Nedsel]

Actually, by '72 prices were starting to increase slightly. I graduated from college in '71 and started looking for a 289 right away. But the cars I saw in ads in late '71 for $5,000 had gone up by the following spring. Damned if I didn't have to shell out all of $5,500 for the nice little silver/red car with 18,000 miles I finally bought in April.

[Silk]

Looked at low mileage a black 427 street car in 1970. It had minor damage to the driver's side door, and the asking price was $4000. Seemed like a ton of money at the time, and I passed. Oh well.

[awfink55]

Opportunities missed: Way back in 1968, I bought a brand new Corvette. Some of my buddies told me, for about the same cost to look at Shelby's Cobra. So, I did, but being in the northeast (cold, snowy winters) and this being my only car, I dismissed the Cobra. Fast forward to 1977, I took a look at a 64-289 Slabside, in decent shape. The seller wanted 20K, we just bought our 1st home for 45K....Had to pass again. Today, my ERA does just fine for me......

[Jim Maxwell]

Ned, I hope you have felt guilty all these years for robbing my poor brother, Ed. There he was, a struggling medical intern, working 190 hours a week and living at home just so he would have enough money to buy a bunch of bananas and a few White Castle burgers across the street from the hospital for his week's worth of food. And some city slicker from the Northeast arrives and swindles him out of his Cobra for a paltry $5500. So sad... (sounds like the Donald, doesn't it?)
Actually, Ed was thrilled to sell CSX 2306 to you, a true Cobra lover.
It has worked out well.

[DRED]

Actually, neither Jim nor I were happy to see CSX2306 leave Kentucky for "up east," but when we look at my decision to sell the car to Ned through the "retrospectroscope" we are pleased at the the passion for these old cars that the kid from Lake Placid nurtured over the subsequent forty years has become what it is today.

[Nedsel]

That's a nice thought, Ed. Glad to have known you over the past few, uh, 45 years.

[120mm]

When I purchased my 17,000 mile 1967 Mustang convertible for $3000 in 1976, I had narrowed it down to four cars.

1. 1965 289 Cobra race car, completely clapped out but still running $3600
2. 1969 Boss 302 with a cheap resto for $3600
3. 1967 427 Corvette $4500 in "meh" condition

Went with the 17,000 mile Mustang convertible and still have it, but really regret taking a pass on the Cobra. When I build my Cobra replica, I plan on replicating the image of it that I still hold in my mind.

[Danr55]

All of these prices and memories are great, but in 1968 I was making a grand total of $2.38/hour looking for a raise to $2.50/hour. With those wages, $5500 was a lot. I bought a '64 slabside in '65 for $3600.

[DanEC]

Minus the clapped out condition I assume.

Originally Posted by 120mm

When I purchased my 17,000 mile 1967 Mustang convertible for $3000 in 1976, I had narrowed it down to four cars.

1. 1965 289 Cobra race car, completely clapped out but still running $3600
2. 1969 Boss 302 with a cheap resto for $3600
3. 1967 427 Corvette $4500 in "meh" condition

Went with the 17,000 mile Mustang convertible and still have it, but really regret taking a pass on the Cobra. When I build my Cobra replica, I plan on replicating the image of it that I still hold in my mind.

[RodKnock]

While it wasn't 1969, IIRC, back in the mid-1980's I had an opportunity to buy a red 289 Cobra that was sitting in a shop on Mission Street in San Francisco and the owner wanted $40,000. I would have had to sell my '66 427 Corvette, but at the time I thought buying any car over $25,000-$30,000 was like "nucking futz."

Stupid me. Now, even Hondas are $30,000-$40,000.

[120mm]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Minus the clapped out condition I assume.

I occasionally take flack for this, but yes. I plan on making it "look" like a well-worn race car, complete with single stage enamel paint and strategic wear and imperfections.

I saw this film on Lynn Parks, and his beat to crap yellow original 289 car, and it resonated with me.

Kind of like the rat rod thing, but historically accurate as to my romanticized recollection.